JP7081450B2 - Sliding door support device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sliding door support device.

Conventionally, a vehicle having a vehicle body having a door opening formed on a side surface, a sliding door for opening and closing the door opening, and a sliding door support device for supporting the sliding door to the vehicle body has been known. The sliding door support device supports the sliding door so that it can open and close the door opening so that it can move in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the sliding door does not interfere with the vehicle body when the sliding door moves in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Supports the vehicle so that it can move in the width direction of the vehicle.

For example, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 10, the first lower rail 110 and the second lower rail 120 arranged at the lower end of the door opening are connected to the lower end of the slide door 200. A sliding door support device 100 having a lower guide unit 130 and a lower guide unit 130 is described.

The first lower rail 110 has a straight portion 111 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and a curved portion 112 that curves inward in the vehicle width direction as the vehicle advances forward. The second lower rail 120 has a straight portion 121 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and a curved portion 122 curved so that the distance from the first lower rail 110 gradually becomes shorter as the vehicle advances forward. On the other hand, the lower guide unit 130 includes a first lower guide roller 131 that moves along the first lower rail 110 and a second lower guide roller 132 that moves along the second lower rail 120. Have. Further, the lower guide unit 130 supports the first lower guide roller 131 and the second lower guide roller 132 at the tip portion, and the base end portion is rotatably connected to the slide door 200. It has an arm 134.

Then, the first lower guide roller 131 moves along the straight portion 111 of the first lower rail 110, and the second lower guide roller 132 moves along the straight portion 121 of the second lower rail 120. As a result, the rotating arm 134 that supports the first lower guide roller 131 and the second lower guide roller 132 moves in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. As a result, the slide door 200 connected to the rotating arm 134 moves in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Further, the first lower guide roller 131 moves along the straight portion 111 and the curved portion 112 of the first lower rail 110, and the second lower guide roller 132 moves along the curved portion 122 of the second lower rail 120. The rotating arm 134 that supports the first lower guide roller 131 and the second lower guide roller 132 moves in the vehicle width direction while moving in the vehicle front-rear direction. As a result, the slide door 200 connected to the rotating arm 134 moves in the vehicle width direction while moving in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-80468

In a vehicle as described above, when the opening degree of the slide door 200 is small, it rotates due to the engagement mode between the first lower rail 110 and the second lower rail 120 and the lower guide unit 130. A moment is generated to rotate the arm 134. Specifically, a moment is generated to rotate the rotating arm 134 so that the base end portion of the rotating arm 134 moves forward with respect to the tip end portion of the rotating arm 134. Therefore, when the opening degree of the slide door 200 is small, the moment generated in the rotating arm 134 causes a force to push the slide door 200 supported by the base end portion of the rotating arm 134 toward the front of the vehicle (closed direction). Occurs. As a result, the user of the vehicle may feel a sense of discomfort when opening and closing the slide door 200, or the operability of the slide door 200 may deteriorate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a slide door support device capable of reducing a force acting on the slide door in the closing direction when the opening degree of the slide door is small.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above problems and their actions and effects will be described.
The slide door support device that solves the above problems is a slide door support device that supports the vehicle body with a slide door that opens and closes a door opening formed on a side surface of the vehicle body, and is arranged at a lower end portion of the door opening. The first lower rail and the second lower rail arranged inward in the vehicle width direction from the first lower rail at the lower end of the door opening are connected to the lower end of the sliding door. The lower guide unit and the first lower rail have a straight portion extending in front of the vehicle and a curved portion that curves inward in the vehicle width direction from the tip of the straight portion toward the front of the vehicle. The second lower rail is curved so that the distance between the straight portion extending in front of the vehicle and the first lower rail gradually shortens from the tip of the straight portion toward the front of the vehicle. The lower guide unit has a curved portion, and the lower guide unit has a first lower guide roller that moves along the first lower rail and a second lower guide that moves along the second lower rail. The roller, the lower fixing portion fixed to the slide door, and the base end portion are rotatably connected to the lower fixing portion, and the first portion is located closer to the tip end than the base end portion. It has a lower guide roller, a lower rotation arm that supports the second lower guide roller, and an urging member that urges the lower fixing portion, and has the lower fixing portion and the lower rotating portion. When the angle between the moving arm and the moving arm is defined as the arm angle, the first lower guide roller moves along the straight portion and the curved portion of the first lower rail, and the second lower guide roller moves along the straight portion and the curved portion. When moving along the curved portion of the second lower rail, the arm angle gradually decreases as the opening degree of the slide door decreases, and the urging member has a larger arm angle. The lower fixing portion is urged in the direction of

According to the above configuration, the arm angle becomes smaller when the sliding door is closed and becomes larger when the sliding door is opened. In other words, the sliding door opens when the arm angle increases. In this respect, the slide door support device having the above configuration includes an urging member that urges the lower fixing portion in the direction in which the arm angle increases. Therefore, the urging member can urge the slide door in the opening direction via the lower fixing portion. In this way, the slide door support device is closed to the slide door in the closing direction due to the engagement mode between the first lower rail and the second lower rail and the lower guide unit when the opening degree of the slide door is small. The acting force can be reduced.

In the slide door support device, it is preferable that the urging member increases the urging force with respect to the lower fixing portion as the arm angle becomes smaller.
The slide door support device having the above configuration has a maximum urging force at a point where the arm angle is the minimum when the slide door is located in the fully closed position. Therefore, the urging member can increase the force for urging the slide door in the opening direction when the slide door starts to open from the fully closed position. In this way, the sliding door support device can reduce the force required to open the sliding door from the fully closed position.

In the slide door support device, the arm angle is such that the first lower guide roller moves along the straight line portion of the first lower rail, and the second lower guide roller moves on the second lower rail. It is maximum when moving along a straight line portion, and it is preferable that the urging member urges the lower fixed portion even when the arm angle is maximum.

According to the above configuration, even when the opening degree of the slide door is large, the urging member urges the lower fixing portion, so that the posture of the lower fixing portion during the opening / closing operation of the slide door is stable. Therefore, the slide door support device can stabilize the posture of the lower end portion of the slide door when the opening degree of the slide door is large.

In the slide door support device, the urging member is preferably a spiral spring.
The slide door support device having the above configuration makes it easy to apply an urging force to the lower fixing portion.

The slide door support device includes an upper rail arranged at the upper end of the door opening and an upper guide unit connected to the upper end of the slide door, and the upper rail is a straight line extending in front of the vehicle. The upper side guide unit has a portion and a curved portion that curves inward in the vehicle width direction from the tip of the straight line portion toward the front of the vehicle, and the upper guide unit moves along the upper rail. The guide roller, the second upper guide roller, the upper load roller rolling on the rolling surface extending along the upper rail, and the base end portion are rotatably connected to the slide door and said to be the same. It is preferable to have the first upper guide roller, the second upper guide roller, and the upper rotating arm that supports the upper load roller at a position closer to the tip than the base end portion.

According to the above configuration, when the slide door opens and closes, the first lower guide roller moves along the first lower rail and the second lower guide roller moves along the second lower rail in the lower guide unit. Move along. Therefore, when the lower rotating arm moves along the first lower rail or the second lower rail depending on the opening degree of the slide door, the length of the first lower rail or the second lower rail It may rotate so that its posture with respect to the direction changes.

On the other hand, when the slide door opens and closes, the first upper guide roller and the second upper guide roller move along one upper rail in the upper guide unit. Therefore, the upper rotating arm does not rotate so as to change the posture of the upper rail with respect to the longitudinal direction when moving along the upper rail. As a result, the rotation direction (circumferential direction) of the upper load roller is less likely to tilt with respect to the movement direction of the upper load roller at the contact point between the upper load roller and the rolling surface regardless of the opening degree of the slide door. In this way, the sliding door support device can prevent the upper load roller that supports the weight of the sliding door from skidding.

In the slide door support device, the upper rail preferably has the rolling surface.
The slide door support device having the above configuration eliminates the need to create a rolling surface of the upper load roller in the vehicle body.

In the slide door support device, the lower rotating arm preferably has a flat plate shape.
When the upper load roller is provided on the upper rotating arm, the cross-sectional shape of the lower rotating arm does not have to be a shape having high bending rigidity and torsional rigidity. In this respect, the slide door support device having the above configuration can have a simple shape for the lower rotating arm.

The sliding door support device can reduce the force acting on the sliding door in the closing direction when the opening degree of the sliding door is small.

Side view of a vehicle with a sliding door support. Top view of the upper rail and the upper guide unit. An exploded perspective view of the upper rail and the upper guide unit. The end view of the upper rail and the upper guide unit. Top view of the lower rail and the lower guide unit. An exploded perspective view of the lower rail and the lower guide unit. The end view of the lower rail and the lower guide unit. (A) and (b) are plan views explaining the operation of the lower guide unit. (A) and (b) are plan views explaining the operation of the lower guide unit. Top view of a conventional sliding door support device.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle provided with a sliding door support device will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 has a vehicle body 12 provided with a door opening 11 on the side surface, a slide door 13 for opening and closing the door opening 11, and a slide door support device for supporting the slide door 13 on the vehicle body 12. 20 and.

The sliding door 13 is between a fully closed position that restricts the occupant from getting on and off the vehicle 10 through the door opening 11 and a fully open position that allows the occupant to get on and off the vehicle 10 through the door opening 11. It opens and closes. In the following description, the degree of opening of the slide door 13 is also referred to as an opening degree of the slide door 13. That is, the opening degree of the slide door 13 is the minimum at the fully closed position and the maximum at the fully open position. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the slide door 13 is a slide door manually operated by the user of the vehicle 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide door support device 20 includes an upper rail 30 arranged at the upper end of the door opening 11, a first lower rail 40 and a second rail 40 arranged at the lower end of the door opening 11. It includes a lower rail 50 and a central rail 60 located behind the door opening 11. The upper rail 30, the first lower rail 40, the second lower rail 50, and the central rail 60 are arranged in, for example, a recess formed in the vehicle body 12. The upper rail 30 is arranged above the vehicle above the center rail 60, and the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 are arranged below the vehicle below the center rail 60.

Further, the slide door support device 20 includes an upper guide unit 70 connected to the upper end portion of the slide door 13, a lower guide unit 80 connected to the lower end portion of the slide door 13, and the slide door 13 in the vehicle vertical direction. A central guide unit 90 connected to a central portion is provided. The upper guide unit 70 and the lower guide unit 80 are connected to a position near the front end of the slide door 13, and the central guide unit 90 is connected to a position near the rear end of the slide door 13.

Next, the upper rail 30 and the upper guide unit 70 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper rail 30 includes a straight portion 31 extending in front of the vehicle, and a curved portion 32 that curves inward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the straight portion 31 toward the front of the vehicle. Has. In the present embodiment, the straight line portion 31 extending in front of the vehicle includes not only one extending in parallel with the vehicle front-rear direction but also one extending in a direction slightly inclined with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the straight portion 31 and the curved portion 32 of the upper rail 30 have a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. The straight portion 31 and the curved portion 32 of the upper rail 30 have a pair of restricting walls 33 and 34 intersecting the vehicle width direction and a support wall 35 intersecting the vehicle vertical direction. The pair of restricting walls 33, 34 are arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction. The inner surface of the upper rail 30 of the support wall 35 is a rolling surface 36 on which the weight of the slide door 13 acts. Further, it can be said that the support wall 35 extends along the upper rail 30 in that it constitutes a part of the upper rail 30.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper guide unit 70 is attached to an upper fixing portion 71 fixed to the upper end portion of the slide door 13 via a fastening member such as a bolt, and an upper fixing portion 71 (sliding door 13). It has an upper rotation arm 72 that is rotatably connected to the upper rotation arm 72. Further, the upper guide unit 70 has a first upper guide roller 73, a second upper guide roller 74, and an upper load roller 75 that move along the upper rail 30.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper rotating arm 72 includes an upper wall 721 and a lower wall 722 that intersect the vehicle vertical direction, and a side wall 723 that connects the upper wall 721 and the lower wall 722 in the vehicle vertical direction. It has a first protruding wall 724 and a second protruding wall 725 extending inward from the upper wall 721 in the vehicle width direction. The upper wall 721 and the lower wall 722 are rotatably connected to the upper fixing portion 71 around the rotation axis extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The first protruding wall 724 rotatably supports the first upper guide roller 73 around the rotation axis extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the second protruding wall 725 rotatably supports the second upper guide roller around the rotating axis extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Supports 74 rotatably. Further, the side wall 723 rotatably supports the upper load roller 75 around the rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the first upper guide roller 73 and the second upper guide roller 74.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first upper guide roller 73, the second upper guide roller 74, and the upper load roller 75 of the upper rotating arm 72 are arranged inside the upper rail 30. Specifically, the first upper guide roller 73 and the second upper guide roller 74 are arranged between the pair of regulation walls 33 and 34 of the upper rail 30, and the upper load roller 75 rolls the support wall 35 of the upper rail 30. Arranged on the surface 36. Then, when the slide door 13 opens and closes, the first upper guide roller 73 and the second upper guide roller 74 rotate along the upper rail 30 in a state of being in contact with one of the regulation walls of the upper rail 30. Moving. Further, when the slide door 13 opens and closes, the upper load roller 75 moves along the upper rail 30 by rotating in a state of being in contact with the support wall 35 (rolling surface 36) of the upper rail 30. In this way, when the slide door 13 opens and closes, the upper guide unit 70 moves along the upper rail 30 while supporting the upper end portion of the slide door 13.

Next, the first lower rail 40, the second lower rail 50, and the lower guide unit 80 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.
As shown in FIG. 5, the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction, and the second lower rail 50 is a vehicle rather than the first lower rail 40. It is placed inward in the width direction. In other words, the second lower rail 50 is arranged closer to the passenger compartment than the first lower rail 40.

The first lower rail 40 has a straight portion 41 extending in front of the vehicle and a curved portion 42 that curves inward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the straight portion 41 toward the front of the vehicle. In the second lower rail 50, the distance LN between the straight portion 51 extending along the vehicle front-rear direction and the first lower rail 40 from the front end of the straight portion 51 in the vehicle width direction gradually increases as the vehicle advances forward. It has a curved portion 52 that is curved so as to be short. Specifically, the curved portion 52 of the second lower rail 50 has a first curved portion 521 that goes outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes forward in the vehicle and an inward portion in the vehicle width direction as it goes forward in the vehicle. It has a second curved portion 522 toward.

The distance LN between the straight portion 51 of the second lower rail 50 and the first lower rail 40 in the vehicle width direction is maintained constant as the vehicle advances forward. The distance LN between the first curved portion 521 of the second lower rail 50 and the first lower rail 40 in the vehicle width direction gradually becomes shorter as the vehicle advances forward. The distance LN between the second curved portion 522 of the second lower rail 50 and the first lower rail 40 in the vehicle width direction is maintained constant as the vehicle advances forward. Similar to the upper rail 30, the straight portion 41 of the first lower rail 40 and the straight portion 51 of the second lower rail 50 extend not only in the front-rear direction of the vehicle but also in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. It shall include those extending in a slightly tilted direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the straight portion 41 of the first lower rail 40 is longer than the curved portion 42 of the first lower rail 40, and the straight portion 51 of the second lower rail 50 is the second lower rail. It is shorter than the curved portion 52 of 50. Further, the straight portion 41 of the first lower rail 40 is longer than the straight portion 51 of the second lower rail 50. Further, in the present embodiment, the length of the curved portion 42 in the longitudinal direction of the first lower rail 40 is shorter than the length of the curved portion 32 in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail 30. In this way, the total width of the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 is configured to be shorter than the total width of the upper rail 30 in the vehicle width direction. At this point, the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 can be arranged at the lower end of the door opening 11 while suppressing the amount of protrusion inward in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 have a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. The straight portion 41 and the curved portion 42 of the first lower rail 40 have a pair of restricting walls 43 and 44 that intersect the vehicle width direction. The pair of restricting walls 43, 44 are arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction. Similarly, the straight portion 51 and the curved portion 52 of the second lower rail 50 have a pair of regulating walls 53, 54 that intersect the vehicle width direction. The pair of restricting walls 53, 54 are arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower guide unit 80 is rotatably connected to the lower fixing portion 81 fixed to the slide door 13 and the lower fixing portion 81 (sliding door 13). It has a lower rotating arm 82, and a shaft portion 83 connecting the lower fixing portion 81 and the lower rotating arm 82. Further, the lower guide unit 80 includes a first lower guide roller 84 that moves along the first lower rail 40, a second lower guide roller 85 that moves along the second lower rail 50, and a lower side. It has an urging member 86 that urges the side fixing portion 81, and a cover 87 that covers the urging member 86. The lower guide unit 80 does not have a lower load roller as a configuration corresponding to the upper load roller 75 that supports the weight of the slide door 13 in the upper guide unit 70.

The lower fixing portion 81 is a rod-shaped member composed of a plurality of members. The base end portion of the lower fixing portion 81 is fixed to the lower end portion of the slide door 13 via a fastening member such as a bolt. A non-circular engaging hole 811 is formed at the tip of the lower fixing portion 81.

The lower rotating arm 82 is a rod-shaped member having a flat plate shape. A circular through hole 821 is formed at the base end of the lower rotating arm 82. Further, a locking piece 822 for locking the second end of the urging member 86 is formed closer to the tip of the lower rotating arm 82 than the base end. The locking piece 822 is formed by cutting up a part of the lower rotating arm 82. The lower rotating arm 82 supports the first lower guide roller 84 and the second lower guide roller 85 at a position closer to the tip than the locking piece 822. The lower rotating arm 82 rotatably supports the first lower guide roller 84 and the second lower guide roller 85 around the rotation axis extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The shaft portion 83 has an engaging shaft portion 831 that engages with the engaging hole 811 of the lower fixing portion 81, and a locking shaft portion 832 that locks the urging member 86. The engaging shaft portion 831 has a non-circular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the engaging hole 811 of the lower fixing portion 81. A locking groove 833 in which the first end of the urging member 86 is accommodated is formed in the locking shaft portion 832 in the radial direction. By engaging the engaging shaft portion 831 with the engaging hole 811 of the lower fixing portion 81, the shaft portion 83 cannot rotate relative to the lower fixing portion 81. On the other hand, the shaft portion 83 can rotate relative to the lower rotation arm 82 and the rotation axis CN by being inserted into the through hole 821 of the lower rotation arm 82.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first lower guide roller 84 is arranged inside the first lower rail 40 so as to be in contact with the inner regulation wall 44 of the first lower rail 40 in the vehicle width direction. .. Further, the second lower guide roller 85 is inside the second lower rail 50 so that the second lower guide roller 85 is in contact with the outer regulation wall 53 of the second lower rail 50 in the vehicle width direction. Be placed. In other words, the lower guide unit 80 sandwiches the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 in the vehicle width direction by the first lower guide roller 84 and the second lower guide roller 85. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the second lower guide roller 85 engages with the straight portion 41 of the first lower rail 40 of the first lower guide roller 84, and the second lower guide roller 85 engages with the straight portion 51 of the second lower rail 50. The first lower guide roller 84 is located in front of the second lower guide roller 85 in the state of engaging with the second lower guide roller 85. Therefore, in the above state, the lower rotation arm 82 faces in a direction in which the base end is slightly tilted forward of the vehicle with respect to the outside in the vehicle width direction.

The urging member 86 is a so-called spiral spring (spring). The urging member 86 is arranged at a connecting portion between the lower fixing portion 81 and the lower rotating arm 82. Specifically, the first end of the urging member 86 is locked to the locking groove 833 of the shaft portion 83 integrated with the lower fixing portion 81, and the second end of the urging member 86 is the lower rotating arm. It is locked to the locking piece 822 of 82. As a result, the urging member 86 urges the lower fixing portion 81 relative to the lower rotating arm 82. Assuming that the angle formed between the lower fixing portion 81 and the lower rotating arm 82 is the “arm angle θ”, the urging member 86 has an initial load that increases the arm angle θ in the state shown in FIG. Is installed so that Further, the urging member 86 elastically deforms as the arm angle θ changes (decreases), thereby increasing the urging force.

The cover 87 is fixed to the lower rotating arm 82 via a fastening member such as a bolt. The cover 87 is preferably shaped so as not to come into contact with the lower fixing portion 81 when the arm angle θ changes.

Then, when the slide door 13 opens and closes, the first lower guide roller 84 rotates along the first lower rail 40 by rotating in a state of being in contact with the regulation wall 44 of the first lower rail 40. do. Similarly, the second lower guide roller 85 moves along the second lower rail 50 by rotating in a state of being in contact with the regulation wall 53 of the second lower rail 50. In this way, when the slide door 13 opens and closes, the lower guide unit 80 moves along the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 while supporting the lower end portion of the slide door 13.

In the present embodiment, the central rail 60 has a configuration similar to that of the upper rail 30, and the central guide unit 90 has a configuration similar to that of the upper guide unit 70. Therefore, in the following description, the description of the central rail 60 and the central guide unit 90 will be omitted.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of the upper guide unit 70 during the opening / closing operation of the slide door 13 will be described.

When the slide door 13 opens and closes, the upper guide unit 70 moves along the upper rail 30. At this time, the first upper guide roller 73 and the second upper guide roller 74 rotate in a state of being in contact with one of the regulation walls of the upper rail 30, and the upper load roller 75 rotates on the support wall 35 (rolling) of the upper rail 30. It rotates in contact with the surface 36).

When the upper guide unit 70 moves along the straight portion 31 of the upper rail 30, that is, when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is large, the upper rotating arm 72 is in a position relative to the upper fixing portion 71. It moves along the upper rail 30 while maintaining the relationship. On the other hand, when the upper guide unit 70 moves along the curved portion 32 of the upper rail 30, that is, when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is small, the upper rotating arm 72 is relative to the upper fixing portion 71. It moves along the upper rail 30 while changing the positional relationship.

However, when the upper rotating arm 72 moves along the upper rail 30, the posture of the upper rail 30 with respect to the longitudinal direction does not change regardless of the opening degree of the slide door 13. Further, the movement locus TR of the upper load roller 75 is parallel to the upper rail 30 regardless of the opening degree of the slide door 13. Therefore, regardless of the opening degree of the slide door 13, the rotation direction (circumferential direction) of the upper load roller 75 is the movement direction of the upper load roller 75 at the contact point between the upper load roller 75 and the rolling surface 36 of the support wall 35. Do not lean against. Therefore, when the slide door 13 opens and closes, the upper load roller 75 is less likely to skid with respect to the support wall 35 of the upper rail 30.

Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the operation of the lower guide unit 80 during the opening / closing operation of the slide door 13 will be described.
When the slide door 13 opens and closes, the lower guide unit 80 moves along the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50. At this time, the first lower guide roller 84 rotates in contact with the regulation wall 44 of the first lower rail 40, and the second lower guide roller 85 is attached to the regulation wall 53 of the second lower rail 50. Rotate in contact.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8A, when the lower guide unit 80 moves along the straight portion 41 of the first lower rail 40 and the straight portion 51 of the second lower rail 50, it is lowered. The relative positional relationship between the side rotating arm 82 and the lower fixing portion 81 is maintained. In other words, the lower guide unit 80 moves along the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 while maintaining the arm angle θ. The arm angle θ in this case is the maximum angle among the arm angles θ that the lower guide unit 80 can take. Further, it can be said that the urging member 86 urges the lower fixing portion 81 even when the arm angle θ is maximum at the point of urging the lower fixing portion 81 even in the case shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8 (b) and 9 (a) and 9 (b), the lower guide unit 80 is the straight portion 41 and the curved portion 42 of the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50. When moving along the curved portion 52, the relative positional relationship between the lower rotating arm 82 and the lower fixing portion 81 changes. In other words, the lower guide unit 80 moves along the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 while changing the arm angle θ.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8 (b), 9 (a) and 9 (b) in order, when the slide door 13 closes toward the fully closed position, the lower rotating arm 82 moves downward. The base end portion of the side rotation arm 82 gradually moves toward the front of the vehicle while rotating toward the front of the vehicle. At this time, the lower fixing portion 81 connected to the base end portion of the lower rotating arm 82 moves inward in the vehicle width direction while moving forward of the vehicle. However, since the lower fixing portion 81 maintains a constant posture when the sliding door 13 is closed, the arm angle θ becomes smaller as the lower guide unit 80 advances to the front of the vehicle. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the slide door 13 moves to the fully closed position, the arm angle θ becomes the minimum angle, and the lower guide unit 80 is in a small folded state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9 (b), 9 (a) and 8 (b) in order, when the slide door 13 opens from the fully closed position, the lower rotating arm 82 rotates downward. The base end portion of the arm 82 gradually moves to the rear of the vehicle while rotating so as to face outward in the vehicle width direction. At this time, the lower fixing portion 81 connected to the base end portion of the lower rotating arm 82 moves outward in the vehicle width direction while moving to the rear of the vehicle. However, since the lower fixing portion 81 maintains a constant posture when the slide door 13 is opened, the arm angle θ increases as the lower guide unit 80 advances to the rear of the vehicle. Then, when the lower guide unit 80 reaches the position shown in FIG. 8A, the arm angle θ becomes the maximum angle, and the lower guide unit 80 is in the most expanded state.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the second lower guide roller 85 of the lower guide unit 80 is located at the boundary between the straight portion 51 and the curved portion 52 of the second lower rail 50. The opening degree of the slide door 13 is defined as an "intermediate opening degree".

By the way, the slide door 13 of the present embodiment is supported laterally of the vehicle body 12 by the upper guide unit 70, the central guide unit 90 and the lower guide unit 80. Therefore, the slide door 13 has a moment at which the upper end portion higher than the center of gravity position tends to move away from the vehicle body 12 and the lower end portion lower than the center of gravity position tends to approach the vehicle body 12. It works. That is, the slide door 13 exerts a force that pulls the upper guide unit 70 outward in the vehicle width direction on the upper guide unit 70, and a force that pushes the lower guide unit 80 inward in the vehicle width direction to the lower guide unit. Let it act on 80.

Since the force with which the slide door 13 pushes the lower guide unit 80 is irrelevant to the opening degree and the moving direction of the slide door 13, even in the cases shown in FIGS. 8 (b) and 9 (a) and 9 (b). , The slide door 13 pushes the lower guide unit 80 inward in the vehicle width direction. Then, the inclination of the curved portion 52 of the second lower rail 50 makes it easier for the second lower guide roller 85 to move to the front of the vehicle, or the inclination of the curved portion 42 of the first lower rail 40 makes it easier for the first lower guide roller 85 to move. The roller 84 may easily move to the front of the vehicle. That is, the lower rotating arm 82 tends to rotate so that the base end portion faces the front of the vehicle.

In this way, when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is less than the intermediate opening degree, a moment is generated to rotate the lower rotating arm 82 so that the base end portion faces the front of the vehicle. If such a moment is generated when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is less than the intermediate opening degree, for example, when the slide door 13 closes in the vicinity of the fully closed position, the operating speed of the slide door 13 suddenly increases. When the slide door 13 is opened from the fully closed position, the force required to operate the slide door 13 may increase.

In this respect, the lower guide unit 80 of the present embodiment is a urging member 86 that urges the lower rotating arm 82 in a direction in which the arm angle θ increases, and is elastic as the arm angle θ decreases. It has an urging member 86 that increases the amount of deformation. Therefore, when the slide door 13 is closed and the opening degree of the slide door 13 is less than the intermediate opening degree, the urging force on the lower rotating arm 82 increases as the opening degree of the slide door 13 decreases. Become. Therefore, when the slide door 13 closes toward the fully closed position, a force in the direction opposite to the moving direction (opening direction) of the slide door 13 acts on the slide door 13, so that the operating speed of the slide door 13 increases. It is hard to rise suddenly.

Further, when the slide door 13 is located at the fully closed position, the arm angle θ is the minimum, so that the magnitude of the urging force of the urging member 86 is the maximum. That is, when the slide door 13 located at the fully closed position starts to open, the slide door 13 tends to move in the opening direction at the point where the arm angle θ tends to increase due to the urging force of the urging member 86. Therefore, when the slide door 13 is opened from the fully open position, a force in the same direction (opening direction) as the moving direction of the slide door 13 acts, so that the force required to open the slide door 13 is large. It's hard to become.

The effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The upper rotating arm 72 of the upper guide unit 70 is rotated so that the posture of the upper rail 30 in the longitudinal direction changes when it moves along the upper rail 30, regardless of the opening degree of the slide door 13. It doesn't work. Therefore, at the contact point between the upper load roller 75 and the rolling surface 36, the upper load roller 75 rolls at a point where the rotation direction (circumferential direction) of the upper load roller 75 does not tilt with respect to the moving direction of the upper load roller 75. It becomes difficult to skid with respect to the moving surface 36. In this way, the slide door support device 20 can prevent the upper load roller 75 that supports the weight of the slide door 13 from skidding.

(2) In the slide door support device 20, the upper rail 30 has a support wall 35 provided with a rolling surface 36. Therefore, the slide door support device 20 does not need to have the rolling surface 36 of the upper load roller 75 built in the vehicle body 12.

(3) The cross-sectional shape of the lower rotating arm 82 does not have to be a shape having high bending rigidity and torsional rigidity in that the lower loading roller does not have to be provided on the lower rotating arm 82. That is, the slide door support device 20 can make the lower rotating arm 82 a simple shape.

(4) The slide door support device 20 includes an urging member 86 that urges the lower fixing portion 81 so that the arm angle θ of the lower guide unit 80 becomes large. Then, the urging member 86 urges the slide door 13 in the moving direction when the slide door 13 is opened via the lower fixing portion 81. As a result, when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is small, the slide door support device 20 is caused by the engagement mode between the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 and the lower guide unit 80. The force acting on the sliding door 13 in the closing direction can be reduced.

Specifically, the slide door support device 20 can suppress a sudden increase in the operating speed of the slide door 13 when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is less than the intermediate opening degree when the slide door 13 is closed. .. In this way, the slide door support device 20 can suppress giving a feeling of harm to the user who closes the slide door 13. Further, the slide door support device 20 can suppress an increase in the operating force required for opening the slide door 13 when the slide door 13 is opened from a fully closed position. That is, the slide door support device 20 can suppress the deterioration of the operability of the user who opens the slide door 13.

(5) The slide door support device 20 has the maximum urging force at the point where the arm angle θ acts when the slide door 13 is located at the fully closed position. Therefore, the urging member 86 applies a relatively large force to the slide door 13 in the opening direction when the slide door 13 starts to open from the fully closed position. In this way, the slide door support device 20 can make the urging force of the urging member 86 function as an assist force for opening the slide door 13, and can make the assist force relatively large.

(6) Regarding the arm angle θ, when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is large, in other words, the first lower guide roller 84 moves along the straight portion 41 of the first lower rail 40, and the second lower guide This is maximum when the roller 85 moves along the straight portion 51 of the second lower rail 50. In this respect, according to the present embodiment, even when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is large, the urging member 86 urges the lower fixing portion 81, so that the posture of the lower guide unit 80 is stable. Specifically, the postures of the first lower guide roller 84 and the second lower guide roller 85 inside the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50 are stable. Therefore, the slide door support device 20 can stabilize the posture of the lower end portion of the slide door 13 when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is large.

(7) By using the urging member 86 as a spiral spring, the urging member 86 can easily apply the urging force to the lower fixing portion 81.
(8) When the lower guide unit 80 does not include the urging member 86, the lower guide unit 80 is attached to the lower fixing portion 81 before assembling to the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50. The movement of the lower rotating arm 82 is not restricted. Therefore, in this case, the first lower guide roller 84 and the second lower guide roller 85 supported by the tip of the lower rotating arm 82 on the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50. It becomes difficult to insert.

On the other hand, the lower guide unit 80 of the present embodiment includes the urging member 86. Therefore, the urging force of the urging member 86 limits the movement of the lower rotating arm 82 with respect to the lower fixing portion 81. Therefore, when the lower guide unit 80 is assembled to the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50, the lower guide unit 80 is attached to the first lower rail 40 and the second lower rail 50, and to the tip of the lower rotating arm 82. It is possible to avoid a situation in which it becomes difficult to insert the first lower guide roller 84 and the second lower guide roller 85 that are supported.

(9) The urging member 86 of the lower guide unit 80 urges the slide door 13 via the lower fixing portion 81 when the slide door 13 is in the fully closed position. The posture of the slide door 13 located in the fully closed position, in other words, the posture of the slide door 13 when the vehicle is running is stabilized. Therefore, the slide door support device 20 can suppress the generation of abnormal noise due to the slight movement of the slide door 13 when the vehicle is running.

This embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
-The urging member 86 may be another spring such as a leaf spring, or may be an elastically deformable rubber or resin. For example, when the urging member 86 is a leaf spring attached to the lower fixing portion 81, the leaf spring is located on the lower side of the lower rotating arm 82 or the vehicle body 12 when the slide door 13 is in the fully closed position. It may be elastically deformed by being compressed with the fixed portion 81.

The urging member 86 may urge the lower fixing portion 81 when the arm angle θ is smaller than the maximum opening and is less than a predetermined opening. In other words, the urging member 86 does not have to urge the lower fixing portion 81 when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is equal to or larger than the intermediate opening degree.

The upper rail 30 does not have to have a support wall 35 on which the upper load roller 75 rolls. In this case, it is preferable to form a surface on the vehicle body 12 on which the upper road roller 75 rolls.
The slide door 13 may be configured as a so-called power slide door that opens and closes by driving an actuator. In this case, the slide door support device 20 can suppress the complicated control of the actuator when the opening degree of the slide door 13 is small.

The central guide unit 90 may or may not have a configuration corresponding to the upper load roller 75.

10 ... vehicle, 11 ... door opening, 12 ... car body, 13 ... sliding door, 20 ... sliding door support device, 30 ... upper rail, 31 ... straight part, 32 ... curved part, 33 ... regulation wall, 34 ... regulation wall , 35 ... support wall, 36 ... rolling surface, 40 ... first lower rail, 41 ... straight part, 42 ... curved part, 43 ... regulation wall, 44 ... regulation wall, 50 ... second lower rail, 51 ... Straight part, 52 ... Curved part, 521 ... First curved part, 522 ... Second curved part, 53 ... Restricted wall, 54 ... Restricted wall, 60 ... Central rail, 70 ... Upper guide unit, 71 ... Upper fixed part, 72 ... upper rotating arm, 721 ... upper wall, 722 ... lower wall, 723 ... side wall, 724 ... first protruding wall, 725 ... second protruding wall, 73 ... first upper guide roller, 74 ... second upper guide roller, 75 ... upper load roller, 80 ... lower guide unit, 81 ... lower fixing part, 811 ... engaging hole, 82 ... lower rotating arm, 821 ... through hole, 822 ... locking piece, 83 ... shaft part, 831 ... engaging shaft, 832 ... locking shaft, 833 ... locking groove, 84 ... first lower guide roller, 85 ... second lower guide roller, 86 ... urging member, 87 ... cover, 90 ... Central guide unit, TR ... movement trajectory, θ ... arm angle.

Claims (7)

A slide door support device that supports a slide door that opens and closes a door opening formed on the side surface of the vehicle body to the vehicle body.
The first lower rail arranged at the lower end of the door opening and
At the lower end of the door opening, a second lower rail arranged inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the first lower rail,
The lower guide unit connected to the lower end of the slide door and
The first lower rail has a straight line portion extending in front of the vehicle and a curved portion that curves inward in the vehicle width direction from the tip of the straight line portion toward the front of the vehicle.
The second lower rail includes a straight portion extending to the front of the vehicle and a curved portion curved so that the distance from the tip of the straight portion to the first lower rail gradually becomes shorter as the vehicle advances to the front of the vehicle. Have,
The lower guide unit is fixed to the slide door, a first lower guide roller that moves along the first lower rail, a second lower guide roller that moves along the second lower rail, and the slide door. The lower fixing portion and the base end portion are rotatably connected to the lower fixing portion, and the first lower guide roller and the second lower fixing portion are rotatably connected to the lower fixing portion at a position closer to the tip end than the base end portion. It has a lower rotating arm that supports the lower guide roller and an urging member that urges the lower fixing portion.
When the angle between the lower fixing portion and the lower rotating arm is defined as the arm angle,
When the first lower guide roller moves along the straight portion and the curved portion of the first lower rail, and the second lower guide roller moves along the curved portion of the second lower rail. As the opening degree of the slide door becomes smaller, the arm angle gradually becomes smaller.
The urging member is a slide door support device that urges the lower fixing portion in a direction in which the arm angle increases. The slide door support device according to claim 1, wherein the urging member increases the urging force with respect to the lower fixing portion as the arm angle becomes smaller. At the arm angle, the first lower guide roller moves along the straight portion of the first lower rail, and the second lower guide roller moves along the straight portion of the second lower rail. It ’s the biggest case,
The slide door support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the urging member urges the lower fixing portion even when the arm angle is maximum. The slide door support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the urging member is a spiral spring. An upper rail arranged at the upper end of the door opening and
An upper guide unit, which is connected to the upper end of the sliding door, is provided.
The upper rail has a straight line portion extending in front of the vehicle and a curved portion that curves inward in the vehicle width direction from the tip of the straight line portion toward the front of the vehicle.
The upper guide unit includes a first upper guide roller and a second upper guide roller that move along the upper rail, an upper load roller that rolls on a rolling surface extending along the upper rail, and a base end. The portions are rotatably connected to the slide door, and the upper rotation that supports the first upper guide roller, the second upper guide roller, and the upper load roller at a position closer to the tip than the base end portion. The slide door support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a moving arm. The sliding door support device according to claim 5, wherein the upper rail has the rolling surface. The slide door support device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the lower rotating arm has a flat plate shape.

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